UN allocates additional $15m for S. Sudan operations

April 11, 2014 (JUBA) – The United Nations emergency relief coordinator has said the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) has allocated an additional $15m to support the most critical life-saving aid operations in South Sudan.

“Despite political efforts to find a solution to the conflict, the fighting continues, causing people to flee elsewhere or to other countries,” she added

This latest allocation is reportedly the second from the CERF to the world’s youngest nation in 2014, bringing the total CERF funding to the crisis this year to $30.3 million.

Almost 5 million people, the UN says, are in need of immediate humanitarian assistance in South Sudan, including over 800,000 internally displaced people.

Also with some 280,000 South Sudanese also seeking refuge in neighbouring countries, CERF has reportedly provided funding to address humanitarian needs in Ethiopia ($6m), Kenya ($4.6m), Sudan ($6.5m) and Uganda ($6.9m).

Currently, UN agencies and humanitarian partners say they need over $1.2 billion for aid efforts this year, but have only received 36 per cent, or $462 million, of the funding so far.

“Time is running out. If we don’t have the money and people we need to scale-up relief efforts now we will be putting the lives of millions of South Sudanese at risk,” said Amos.

“Some 3.7 million people are already at risk of food insecurity,” she stressed.

Since South Sudan gained independence in July 2011, aid agencies in South Sudan have reportedly received almost $89.4 million from CERF for critical assistance, including food, clean water, shelter and health services.

(ST)